Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1887-07-02
G. A. r. DAY.
An Old Soldiers Account Of the Pleasant
Time at Winfield.

"0AA wv 's~e' AoSooIuoy OoAuS VI.
A. r. day at Winfield, the writer, with
others, took the early train to the city of
Winfield, and in due time the desired
haven was reached. X 4 After
dinner we returned to the tabernacle
and were invited to take seats on the
platform, when the world renowned
Chaplain McCabe seated himself at the
piano and the old familier song March
ing Through Georgia." was rendered,
filing the building. from floor to dome
with the music swelling from 5000
Threats. After the song was rendered
and the music had foated away, Capt.
Seward stepped forward to the edge of
the platform and introduced Chaplain
McCabe. He was received with tremen-
dous applause. Order being restored he
thanked the audience for their interest
in him and proceeded to give his famous
''Srnny side of Libby Prison." which
production was hailed throughout with
applause. The writer of this could ap-
preciate all that was said, as he was q
prisoner in Libby with the Chaplain, and
will say right here that not one incident
vas overdrawn. It brought back to me
the many weary hours spent inside of
Libby; it brought back memories of dear
friends, who, from suffering in prison
are now in their untimely graves. After
this was ended came the grandest feature
of the day, the address by Gen. Gibson
to the Grand Army of the Republic. It
was one of the best productions the
writer ever had the pleasure OF listening
to, and I will give one passage to show
you how he carried his audience with
him in his address. Stepping back and
suddenly turning to the G.. A. r. he
said: Comrades, I uncover my head in
your presence, and no one should ap-
proach you unless they are uncovered,
for you saved our country that you
might be free men. And, comrades. the
angels in heaven should uncover before
you, for they saved God inspired coun-
try, country which God intended to
rule the nations of the earth" As these
words were delivered the audience almost
rose to their feet and it went like an
electric current through them. Cheer
upon cheer greeted the old general,
which showed to him where the hearts
of his audience were. After the lecture
was over Chaplain McCabe stepped upon
the platform, struck up "Old John
Browns body lies Wondering in the
grave" and the music rose and swelled
from the Threats of the entire audience
until it made one feel that he was back
in reality, marching with gun and KNAPP
sack over the old and bloody fields of
the rebellion. After this came the 'Sun-
ny side of Andersonville prisonf' The
lecturer said they had made mistake
in advertising him as he had no such
lecture as that, and we thought "right
you are" for can it be possible that
there was sunny side to Andersonville
prison. No, we think not.
After this came the address of ex-
Governor Anthony, which was worthy
of the man and the occasion and was
enthusiastically received by all.
OLD SOLDIER.
The Winfield Courier contains this
description Ut the procession: The Grand
Army boys started from their post room
for Island Park shortly before ten
o'clock. First came the standard bearer
carrying the superb banner presented to
Winfield Post No. IS G.. A. B. by the
Woman's Relief Corps. He ives followed
by the Winfield Juvenile drum corps and
next came the flag corps, body OF
handsome little girls all dressed in white |
and bearing neat flags. Then came the
g. A. r. boys fully four hundred strong |
who came from Burden, Cambridge, |
Dexter, Arkansas City and the different
towns in the county as we'll as from
Winfield. The procession was ended by
the Artillery Company who had with
them one of the gums Of Battery "A"
Light Artillery, Z. N. g. The process
MON presented very pleasing appear
anoe, with banners flying in the breeze
and contributed IN no small degree to
The spectacular effects Of the day.
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